Trio Tower offers refuge for busy professionals

Away from it all doesn't describe the actual location of Trio Tower, the 100-unit apartment building at 670 W. Wayman St. in Chicago, but it certainly describes its aura.

Nestled on a quiet residential street that seems light-years away from the clatter of the Lake Street elevated train two blocks south and the constant stream of highway traffic two blocks west, Trio is for those who lead busy lives but want to retreat to serenity at the end of the day.

The building is in the Fulton River District. The neighborhood is a mix of gleaming new residential high-rises and eclectic shops wedged into vestiges of old industrial Chicago with handsome brick commercial properties, still-active rail lines and the heavenly fragrance wafting from the Blommer Chocolate Co.

Designed by Chicago's Hartshorne Plunkard Architects and opened in 2009, Trio is an E-shaped complex with a 22-story west tower forming one wing and seven-story mid-rise wings bordering two courtyards.

Though the main entrance is cocooned from the surrounding bustle, the front door opens to a small stretch of street with an urban feel. The concrete-and-glass complex is across from a row of town houses and is neighbor to several residential towers and a vintage commercial building.

A Trio resident turning right after exiting the building's main door can walk easily to Carnivale, the brightly painted Latin eatery seen by thousands of commuters every day. Turn left and the resident can stroll down the block to a charming out-of-the-way restaurant and pub.

The building tends to attract seasoned apartment dwellers rather than those just out of college, says property manager Garrett Jones.

"This is not their first or second apartment" he says of most tenants. Many are more established in their occupations and choose Trio for the privacy and conveniences they want in a home.

Each unit has a balcony, in-unit washer and dryer, and well-appointed bathroom and kitchen. Amenities include a free continental breakfast several days a week in the lobby for residents hurrying out the door, 24-hour door service, concierge service and "while-away" pet walking and plant watering for residents who travel.

Though the street in front of the building has a narrow, old-city feel, the back of the building abuts the new look in the neighborhood with a small contemporary shopping center including a full-service fresh-market grocery store, pharmacy, bank and dry cleaners.

Trio has a mix of one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom, and two- and three-bedroom duplex units.

For those looking for a home within the city, the duplexes are truly house-size.

There are 10 two-story penthouses. Eight of the units have more than 2,000 square feet.

The largest is the aptly named Pinnacle, which rents for $8,604 a month and boasts 2,868 square feet. It faces east and south to overlook the city. There is a library, powder room and 23-by-23-foot corner living area with floor-to-ceiling windows. The living area opens to the dining room and kitchen, which is equipped with a Wolf range and Sub-Zero refrigerator, the standard appliances for all the penthouses.

Upstairs on the second level, the Pinnacle has a huge master bedroom and bath suite and a second bedroom with full bath and full laundry room.

The somewhat smaller but still spacious 2,255-square-foot Meridian model on the southwest corner of the building is under $6,000 a month. The open main level living room and kitchen has a west-facing balcony and looks south and west for awe-inspiring views of sunsets and, at night, the mesmerizing ribbons of light from cars on the expressway far below.

Three bedrooms are on the second floor, including the master suite with private bath and walk-in closet. The luxurious and roomy second bathroom features a tub placed so one can relax while watching the clouds and cityscape through a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass.

For those with smaller space needs, an 808-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath apartment starts at $1,850. A larger one-bedroom with den plan has two full bathrooms and 897 square feet with rent beginning at $2,050.

There are three floor plans for those wanting two bedrooms and two baths. They range from 1,016 to 1,355 square feet, with rent starting at $2,450.

All one- and two-bedroom units have Frigidaire stainless steel appliances.

Residents have access to an exercise room, club center and lounge, sun deck and a dog run in Trio Park west of the complex. Each unit has its own storage space included with rent. Also available are 185 assigned indoor parking spaces in the building's heated garage on the lower levels. Each space rents for $225 and can store two bicycles.